Daily Lectionary | Exodus 3 & Matthew 9:18-34
Exodus 3
Summary
Moses is living in Midian as a shepherd over Jethro’s flocks. He comes to Mt. Horeb, which is also called Mt. Sinai, where the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush, in a flame of fire. Moses moves in to see the mysterious sight of the burning bush that is not consumed when the Lord calls out to him: “Moses, Moses!”
The Lord tells him to halt his steps and not to come closer, to remove his sandals, because he’s standing on holy ground. Then, as happened with earlier theophanies in Genesis (e.g., Jacob’s dream of the ladder), the Lord reiterates the Abrahamic promise: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Ex. 3:6). God is the promise-keeping God.
The Lord has heard the cry of his people for rescue (Ex. 2:23) and affirms his intent to deliver them and to bring them to the promised land. The Lord hasn’t just “heard their cry,” he has “seen their affliction.” The Lord will send Moses to Pharaoh to bring his people out of Egypt. God is the delivering God.
Moses objects that he is a nobody, but the Lord says that he will be with Moses and that his sign will be that he will bring his people to this very mountain (Sinai/Horeb).
The Lord tells Moses that his name is “I AM WHO I AM.” This is the name Yaweh, the Divine Name. This is the God who is. God is self-existent. YHWH is the name of the unchanging God. God sets this name as his memorial name: This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations (Ex. 3:15). In Scripture, memorials (like the rainbow after the Flood and the like the bread and wine at the Supper) “remind” God of his covenant promises. This is the name given to the people of God to call upon God that he might remember his promises.
This YWHW God will bring Israel out of Egypt.
Reflection Questions
What’s significant about the revelation of God’s name in Exodus 3? How do the “I am” statements in the Gospel of John connect with this?
How has the theme of “plundering Egypt” (Ex. 3:22) already played out in Scripture?
Matthew 9:18-34
Summary
A ruler comes to Jesus pleading for his daughter who has suffered a flow of blood for 12 years. In the meantime, another woman touches the edges of Jesus’ robe that she might be healed. And she was. Then the story picks back up as Jesus enters into the ruler’s house which is in mourning. Jesus says that the girl is only sleeping. He goes in, takes the girl by the hand and raises (resurrects!) her.
Just like Jesus heals two demoniac possess men in chapter 8, so there’s another doubling as he heals two blind men who were crying out for mercy. Jesus touches their eyes and they were opened. Once again Jesus touches to heal. These healed blind men go away “spreading the fame” of Jesus.
Now, a demon-oppressed man is brought to Jesus, who casts out the demon, allowing the man to speak. The demonic oppression caused this man to be silent; having meant Jesus his tongue is loosened.
Reflection
How do the different groups of people react to Jesus’ miracles in this section?
Describe the faith that Jesus is responding to in each healing episode in vv. 18-34? How is such faith commendable to us?